#stop elbit

The official BDS accounts obviously can't say what is one of the most effective tactics against Elbit Systems: Direct Action!

Get together with your friends, set up a direct action group, and attack Elbit Systems factories and companies that work with Elbit Systems in your country!

Victories against Israel’s military machine!

In a time when Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza, modern-day Israel, and the rest of the world are resisting Israel’s brutal repression, two slivers of light here in the UK.

Firstly, the ban on protest that Israeli-owned arms company UAV took out was wholly taken down by a judge. Declaring it should “never have existed”, this will be welcome news to all who oppose links with the Elbit-run company.

Secondly, activists in Kent blocked another Elbit-owned company from expanding their base to a nearby airfield. They blockaded themselves on site in a WW2-era watchtower. Great work, Kent!

The pressure against Elbit is working. Along with other big Israeli arms companies, they’re complaining about lost profits and “less desire for Israeli-made products”. 

Let’s keep up, and diversify, the pressure.

When Israel intensively bombing Gaza this summer it killed more than 2,000 Palestinians including over 500 children. Over 10,000 others were injured in the brutal assault and countless homes destroyed. People in Gaza are still grieving; still homeless; still displaced; still struggling to rebuild; still psychologically traumatised - and still suffering from all the other effects of ongoing the siege including the removal of freedom of movement, being prevented from fishing and farming, massive unemployment, and resulting impoverishment, hunger and limited access to electricity.

This is why in August a group of #StopArmingIsrael activists in the UK occupied the roof of a factory near Birmingham that’s owned by Israeli arms company Elbit where engines for drones continue to be made. Here is a brief update on the trial.

We wanted to let people know that we have already entered our collective plea to the charge of ‘aggravated trespass’ (NOT GUILTY). A date for the trial has not yet been set.

We have been asked to attend a hearing at a court in Newcastle-under-Lyme on 18 November 2014.

However this is NOT the actual trial and our legal representatives have asked the court to excuse our presence (as we live in several different cities across the UK and have work and personal commitments). This means we are hoping our legal team alone will need to attend.

We won’t know for sure whether we need to be there until the court responds. But we’re writing this because we’ve heard some people were planning to show up on the 18th to show solidarity with us and we just wanted to let you know it might not be needed at this time.

We are hugely grateful for the solidarity and support we’ve been shown by local activists and community members while we stand together in solidarity with the Palestinians. If and when there are future developments in our case we will write about it.